Robert Parry: When Henry Kissinger Makes Sense

[karynnj]

15. Agree, but it is funny that Parry, who always spoke in absolute morality terms, is for Realpolitik

That is what he is doing here. I doubt that anyone serious about understanding Russia (USSR too) post WWII did not realize that Russia has put enormous importance on having a buffer of satellite countries surrounding it. Kissinger's realpolitik view is let them have it - even if it means actually rebuffing those countries if they prefer to have links to both their neighbor, Russia, and their western neighbors in the EU.

One surprising thing to me on DU, is that many of the people who actually agree that EU and the US should not have had any outreach are the first to argue that long established American policy (the Monroe doctrine) has done really bad things in Latin America. (Oddly, most of these critics ignored when the Obama administration said the Monroe doctrine was NOT their policy.)

I can understand why various foreign policy people speak to Kissinger. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge of many past factors that could inform the current positions of people like Putin. However, in additional to the wealth of knowledge and diplomatic skill which he undeniably has, he is essentially amoral. This is why I have no problem when a statesman, who I know to have integrity and has shown himself (or herself) to be moral consults with Kissinger on his ideas on dealing with some adversary. They will, of course, use their own acumen and diplomatic skills -- and importantly, apply their own moral values.

I realize that some here would rather that Democrats never speak to a man that many consider a war criminal. However, if the result is that the statesman considers something ahead of time that helps him (her) craft a better plan for negotiations, how does that in any way compromise the statesman.